Daily Archives: July 17, 2008
The Mets (52-44) beat the Reds (46-51) by the score of 10 to 8 tonight in Cincinnati, increasing their winning streak to ten consecutive games.
For the first time since April 19th, the Mets are in first place, even if they do share it with the Phillies.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., go to SNY.tv.
- It was smooth sailing for both starting pitchers until the fourth inning when Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer literally out of Great American Ballpark. In the bottom of the frame, Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion hit back-to-back solo shots off of Johan Santana who apparently hasn’t been told that the second half has begun. Santana allowed a total of five runs in the fourth, his final inning.
- In the fifth, David Wright had a two out, two-run base hit to make it five to four.
- Fernando “Superman” Tatis strikes again, belting a two-run homer to give the Mets a one run lead in the sixth. In his last twelve games, Tatis is batting .432 with four home runs.
- The Reds pitching coach’s name is Dick Pole.
With two outs and none on in the seventh, Aaron Heilman, one of six relievers used tonight, loaded the bases, and Scott Schoeneweis cleared them by allowing a double to Jose Valentin’s brother, Javier.- With one out in the ninth, David Wright hit a two-run homer off of Francisco Cordero to tie the game up at eight. Wow.
- Carlos Delgado, who had three RBI on the night, drove in Carlos Beltran to give the Mets the lead for good. Billy Wagner then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to earn the save.
The team showed a lot of fight tonight, and is continuing to find ways to win.
Game two of the series begins tomorrow at 7:10 pm with John Maine (8-6) facing off against Bronson Arroyo (7-7).
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Orlando Hernandez was removed due to foot soreness after pitching one inning in his rehab start for Double-A Binghamton tonight.
…ugh…i wonder if both el duque and Moises Alou come from the the same family tree…it would certainly explain their penchant for getting injured…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Orlando Hernandez |The Game:
The Mets (51-44) look to win their tenth straight game as they start a four-game series against the Reds (46-50) tonight at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- RF Endy Chavez
- 3B David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 2B Damion Easley
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- LF Fernando Tatis
- C Brian Schneider
- P Johan Santana
The Pitchers:
LHP Johan Santana (8-7, 2.84 ERA) starts for the Mets.
RHP Johnny Cueto (7-9, 4.67 ERA) starts for the Reds.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WFAN.
The Bleachers:
For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets…
Tagged Mike Nichols |ESPN is reporting that the Phillies have acquired Joe Blanton from the Oakland A’s for three minor leaguers.
Blanton has a record of 5-12 this season with an ERA of 4.96.
Tagged Phillies, Regis Courtemanche |
Speaking on WFAN a few moments ago, Jerry Manuel stated Pedro Martinez received an injection in his hip today and will miss his scheduled start on Sunday versus the Reds.
Manuel said Mike Pelfrey will start in Martinez’s place on Sunday.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Pedro Martinez |Brian Costello of the New York Post details his experience seeing the classy Carlos Beltran at Newark Airport this morning.
Bloomberg.com reports the Mets will give season ticket holders a chance to buy their seats before offering them to the general public prior to Shea Stadium being demolished.
Over at Amazin’ Avenue, Eric Simon previews the Mets schedule after the break.
Matt Tracy recaps his experience watching Angel Pagan play for Single-A Brooklyn earlier this week in Oneonta.
Mike of Mike’s Mets takes a look at the “Mighty” Mike Pelfrey.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
With all the injuries and a poor record, the Washington Nationals are promoting prospects:
With the second half of the season a wash, the Nationals have already started promoting prospects from the minors, players who are key to Kasten’s plan to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. A promising sign that doesn’t grab headlines: The three top farm teams all have records well over .500.
Good minor league records tend to lead to good major league records.
It looks like Chase Utley’s reaction on being booed at the Home Run Derby will shift Mets fans attention from Jimmy Rollins.
Mike Hampton thought he was coming back to the majors soon, but he tweaked his groin in his last rehabilitation start.
The Marlins could be the first team to have each of their four infielders hit 25 home runs.
For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.
ESPN’s Inside Edge section has posted in-depth mid-season report cards for all 30 major league teams, including the Mets.
The New York Post has a much more casual report card of their own today as well.
Meanwhile, over at The Nooner, Duke Casanova notes why these and other mid-season report cards are senseless.
Casanova writes:
“If we’re grading these guys against their preseason expectations, maybe that makes sense. But if we’re grading them as baseball players, someone should consult the provost’s office. Sure, we’re all really proud of how hard Fernando Tatis has worked to produce his .292 average and .323 on-base percentage, but does that really make him a better or more valuable baseball player than A-Rod?”
…just the term ‘report card’ alone makes me shudder in anxious fear…
…they are all so subjective and usually created by one individual so their credibility is certainly suspect…nonetheless, i always read them for the entertainment value…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
I attended Billy Joel’s concert at Shea Stadium last night. I may be the only native Long Islander that isn’t completely enamored by Joel, but I couldn’t pass up a shot at going to the farewell concert at Shea.
Needless to say, it was a great event, full of cameos from artists such as Tony Bennett and John Mayer, but it was the transformation of Shea that impressed me most. It was an excellent way to send off the old stadium.
Seeing Shea in concert mode was truly special, and it was a great venue to see a show in. I have included an abbreviated slideshow from the event which you can view by clicking here.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Shea Stadium |In his latest column for the Daily News, John Harper writes the Mets are a good bet to win the National League East.
Despite Billy Wagner becoming harder to trust, Harper believes the Mets starting pitching will carry the team to a division crown, but getting to the World Series is questionable, writing:
“Can they survive Wagner’s penchant for blowing big ones in what looms now as a tight race with the Phillies for the NL East?
I’m saying yes, and even after all the tumult that defined the Mets’ first half of the season, I’m staying with my preseason pick for this team to win the East. Staying with them to reach the World Series is quite another matter, especially since CC Sabathia and Rich Harden have landed with the Brewers and Cubs, respectively, but if the Mets get to October, their pitching gives them a chance.”
…i’m not as worried about wags as most…every closer goes through a rough period throughout the season, and wagner is no different…
…as harper noted, wagner does have the habit of going on a streak of clean saves and the blowing one in a big spot, but having a closer like that does not prevent teams from winning…see the 1996 Yankees with John Wetteland and the 2003 Marlins with Ugueth Urbina…the problem is the Mets will have to rely on wagner to close out games, because frankly i don’t trust anyone else in the Mets bullpen to do so…
For more on Wagner, check out Ben Shpigel’s column in the New York Times.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
